World notes: Akers to get FIFA Order of Merit.

(Monday, April 25, 1998) -- United States women's star Michelle Akers is one of 10 persons chosen today to receive the prestigious FIFA Order of Merit at the opening ceremony of the world soccer governing body's 51st congress June 7 in Paris, prior to the start of the World Cup.

She is the all-time leading U.S. scorer with 96 goals.

Akers, 32, had 39 goals in 26 games in the world championship season of 1991. She battled back from knee surgery and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to play a leading role on the Olympic gold-medal team in 1996.

Once a forward, she has been slotted in the midfield most of the 1998 season.

Others named as recipients:

* South Africa President Nelson Mandela, "for his enthusiastic support in re-integrating football into post-apartheid South Africa."
* Gerd Mueller (Germany), gold medalist in the 1974 World Cup and leading goal-scorer in the 1970 World Cup.
* Bert Millichip (England), former chairman of the English Football Association and FIFA Committee member.
* Larbi Ben Barek (Morocco/France), star striker in the 1930-50's.
* The late Guillermo Canedo (Mexico), former FIFA senior vice-president and chairman of the FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee.
* Henry Fok (Hong Kong), former FIFA Executive Committee member and patron of football in Hong Kong and China.
* Gilmar (Brazil), goalkeeper in the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1966.
* Fernand Sastre (France), co-president of the French World Cup Organizing Committee France 98.
* Karl-Heinz Weigang (Germany), "a pioneer coach of the FIFA International Development Program in the 1970's."

Goalkeeper Espen Baardsen, who moved from California two years ago, made three brilliant saves to lead Norway to a 1-0 win against dominant Sweden and a place in the European under-21 semifinals in Bucharest, Romania. Steffen Iversen, a club mate with Tottenham (England), scored in the 45th minute. Norway will meet Spain on Wednesday, while Netherlands and Greece play Tuesday in the other semifinal.

Charlton Athletic clinched promotion to the English Premier League, winning 7-6 in a shootout after battling to a 4-4 draw with Sunderland in regulation time. It will join Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough next year, replacing Bolton, Barnsley, and Crystal Palace, the bottom three Premier League finishers this year. The first 13 penalties were all converted before Australian goalkeeper Sasa Ilic saved Michael Gray's spot-kick to send the Addicks into the top flight for the first time since 1990.

No. 17 Compostella dropped to Spain Second Division after losing on away goals 1-1 following two draws with now-promoted Villarreal. No.18 Oveido, meanwhile, remained in first division winning aggregate 4-3 against Las Palmas, 3-1 in today's second leg. Alaves and Extremadura earlier gained first division status by finishing 1-2 in the second division, while No. 19 Merida and No. 20 Sporting Gijon dropped.

German second division leaders Eintracht Frankfurt assured itself of returning to the Bundesliga top flight with a 2-2 draw today against FSV Mainz, with two weeks of play remaining. Four clubs -- Nuernberg, Freiburg, Guetersloh and St. Pauli -- are in contention for the remaining two tickets to the first division, replacing Karslruhe, Cologne, and Arminia Bielefeld, who were relegated for finishing at the bottom this year.

Judge Victor Perrota lifted a suspension of Argentine national league soccer matches after soccer authorities presented a plan designed to curb growing hooligan violence with stricter security at stadiums. After months of warnings that security needed to be improved, he decided on the suspension after two River Plate supporters were shot in the legs before a match two weeks ago.

Top of the list of Perrota's demands was the installation of surveillance cameras at stadiums to control the entry of troublemakers. Fans also will be forbidden from rolling out huge banners, with their team's emblem on it to taunt supporters on the other side. From now on, only flags no larger than a square meter will be allowed. Play, suspended for two weeks, will resume next week.

A Hungarian shopkeeper shot and wounded two of some 200 fighting soccer fans who smashed his shop window. The shopkeeper was then shot and wounded by a policeman after he refused to put down his gun. The fight erupted in the train station of Balatonlelle, a popular holiday resort on lake Balaton. The spokesman said several hundred fans of Budapest soccer club Honved were on their way to a match in Zalaegerszeg, in southwest Hungary. It was unclear what provoked the riot.

Alberto Zaccheroni will be the new coach of AC Milan for the next two seasons, the slumping Serie A team announced today after dropping Fabio Capello. He helped guide Udinese into third place last season. Zaccheroni's successor at Udinese has already been named, with Vicenza coach Francesco Guidolin taking over.